The Nimr water treatment plant (NWTP) project  was co-executed by Bauer Resources and Petroleum Development Oman (PDO). Following a 2-year design, construction & commissioning phase, the plant became commercially operational on 16th January 2011 The Nimr oilfield requires 240,000 m³/d of water( the oil contaminated formation water remaining after separation of crude oil)  to be managed as part of its oil extraction operations. Deep disposal wells were the main option in the past,but the Nimr WTP can address the issues of loss of revenue from lost oil previously left in produced water, meeting stricter environmental regulations. A reduction in energy consumption during operation and carbon footprint associated with disposal wells is achieved.

The system has become an ecosystem which attracts several species of fauna and flora and it was proven that the plant structure in the system has changed throughout the operational period to a natural plant association. Up to date more than 120 native and migratory birds have been counted on site. The wetlands have even become home to two species of fish despite its remote location.

The Nimr WTP project is reducing the environmental footprint in an unexpected scale. The project has won several international awards such as the “Global Water Award” in 2011, the ADIPEC “Best MENA Oil & Gas HSE Project” Award in 2012 and the “Excellence of Climate Action” Award as the Qatar Sustainability Summit in 2019

Executed Services

Design, Build and Operate a Treatment System for Produced Water from Crude Oil Production in the Nimr Oilfield based on a surface flow wetland technology.

Characteristics/ Technical Data

• Oil / water separator type “AWAS” (7,000 m³/h)
• Oil Recovery > 750 Barrels Crude Oil per Day on Average
• Overall area wetlands and pounds 1200 ha
• Gravity flow system,  therefore no energy consumption through intermediate pumping
• Innovative construction method: HDPE film solution is replaced by a mineral sealing layer
• TPH Removal from > 500 ppm to less than 0.5 ppm
• Evaporation of Effluent Brine with NaCl Recovery
• Carbon Emission Reduction during Operation, 1,500,000 MWh/a Energy Savings
• Flow Rate: 175,000 m³/d (175ML/d)